Contents and storage
Component Amount[1] Storage[2]
Pacific Blue™ Annexin V (Component A)[3] 250 pL solution in 25mM HEPES, 140mM
NaCl, 1 mM EDTA, pH 7.4, with 0.1% bovine
serum albumin (BSA)
Store at 2–6°C.
Protect from light.
Do not freeze.
SYTOX™ AADvanced™ Dead Cell Stain
(Component B)[4] 1 vial Store at 2–6°C.
Protect from light.
Dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO), anhydrous
(Component C) 100µL
Store at 2–6°C.
5X Annexin-binding buer (Component D) 15mL
[1] Sufficient material is supplied for 50 assays, based on the protocol below.
[2] When stored as directed, this kit is stable for at least 6months.
[3] Approximate fluorescence excitation/emission maxima: 415/455 nm
[4] Approximate fluorescence excitation/emission maxima: 546/647 nm, bound to DNA
Spectral characteristics
The fluorescence excitation and emission spectra of the Pacific Blue™ annexin V conjugate (Component A) has fluorescence
excitation/emission maxima of 415 nm and 455 nm, respectively.
The fluorescence excitation and emission spectra of the SYTOX™ AADvanced™ Dead Cell Stain (Component B) were obtained from
samples of the dye bound to DNA. The SYTOX™ AADvanced™ Dead Cell Stain exhibits a fluorescence enhancement of greater than
500‑fold. The SYTOX™ AADvanced™ Dead Cell Stain/DNA complex has fluorescence excitation and emission maxima of 546nm and
647 nm, respectively.
Required materials not supplied
• Flow cytometry tubes
• Cells and culture medium
• Deionized water
Procedural guidelines
• We have optimized this assay using Jurkat cells treated with camptothecin to induce apoptosis. Some modifications may be required
for use with other cell types.
• Make sure that all tubes contain the same number of cells for a given experiment. Tube-to-tube variation in cell number leads to
significant dierences in staining, and such variation can aect results.
• We recommend phosphate-buered saline (PBS) for suspending cells during staining.
• Do not use glass containers or tubes.
Label apoptotic cells for flow cytometry
1. Remove the kit from the refrigerator, and allow the contents to equilibrate to room temperature.
2. Prepare 1X annexin-binding buer. For example, for ∼10 assays, add 1 mL of 5X annexin-binding buer (Component D) to 4mL of
deionized water.
3. Prepare 500µM SYTOX™ AADvanced™ Dead Cell Stain working solution by adding 200 µL DMSO (Component C) to one vial of
SYTOX™ AADvanced™ Dead Cell Stain (Component B). Mix the solution well.
Note: When stored at 2–6°C, the SYTOX™ AADvanced™ Dead Cell Stain working solution may be subjected to many freeze-thaw
cycles without reagent degradation.
4. Induce apoptosis in cells using the desired method. Prepare a negative control by incubating cells in the absence of apoptosis
inducing agent.
5. Harvest the cells after the incubation period and wash them in cold phosphate-buered saline (PBS).
2 Pacific Blue™ Annexin V/SYTOX™ AADvanced™ Apoptosis Kit for Flow Cytometry User Guide